Green Things

In the past I've been rather hopeless at keeping garden records. Here is as good a place as any I guess, so I can happily report that yesterday Meri and I planted our first raspberry cane (how exciting!). Our "box" seedlings seem to be doing well despite visits from the local cabbage moth population. I removed some eggs this morning but no caterpillars.
On another, even more exciting green note - here is Paul's Green Tara mandala that he got back ready to hang last night!

Finally our new abode

First, the driveway. Somewhat of a feeling of seclusion don't you think? That's Nellie the Elephant sitting at the top of the driveway.
Next, the front garden. Sloping but relaxing and lovely. Although the agapanthas and the orange flower in the foreground are actually classed as noxious weeds in the bush up here.
Now this...
garden bed at the side of the house was a lovely overgrown thing when we inspected the property. Full of potential we thought. After we picked up the keys we discovered this monstrosity of white gravel had been dumped (and planted with natives, ok) here and on the driveway. Sticking out from the edges we could see that they had not lined it with weedmat or plastic but old lace curtains. Um, how will that stop the weeds growing through?
And of course, the backyard. There are more photos but blogger seems to have had enough. To the right of the shed there is a gap in the hedge which leads to a lovely shady overgrown patch which needs to have chickens installed in it post-haste. We just need to manifest somewhere for them to sleep.

Quinoa soup?

In an attempt to move away from the excesses of the solstice period I made a menu plan today. Tonight's fare is Peruvian Quinoa Soup. I'm not sure it'll be a hit.

A little fear released

Today I bought the first item for the new baby! Although I had stuff I'd picked up in various disastrous pregnancies I didn't buy anything at all for Meri until after the foetal anomaly scan. Not having any ultrasounds this time means a whole different way of dealing with that fear.
We were in the local op-shop and Meri was looking at swimwear meaning I had to browse near her or risk her running out of the shop which she had done in a deli five minutes earlier. Having a choice between baby clothes or men's suit jackets I went with the baby clothes. Lo and behold, right there in front of me was a little top and pants set in perfect condition. That would be good for EC I thought, remembering our desperate shopping trips to find pants for teeny Meri when we discovered how useless all in one suits were for taking a baby to the toilet. When I picked it up not only was it not an all in one suit, but the pants were split-crotch! Perfect. So since split crotch clothing is virtually impossible to find unless you have it custom made (or make it yourself) or know someone who lives in China, I had no choice but to "feel the fear and do it anyway".

18 week belly

I started taking photos at 11 weeks with Meri so this is a little later but here it is anyway. I don't think I really look pregnant unless you know. I do have a pot belly normally, but it's not normally that ROUND.

Blood Sugar and Bleeding

PMS schmee m s. It's all about what I eat. Here we are, eight days before I'm due to bleed and I find myself getting unreasonably cranky with Meri. Hang on, I haven't eaten anything for a couple of hours and no protein for ages. Quick, make an emergency tuna sandwich and, just like magic, ten minutes later I can't imagine why I would ever get cross with her.
Just a quick post, off to take a magnesium supplement in case that makes a difference too!

Cranky

I need a magnesium alarm. A little device that sits in the corner of the hallway counting how many times a minute I walk past. More than five & it moves to frustration. More than ten and it starts to beep with a little red sign flashing "Take Magnesium Now!!".
It would save poor little Meri Erde a lot of heartache.
Cranky Mama!